ISLAMABAD, Pakistan: The governments of Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa have identified 12 Special Economic Zones (SEZs) for establishment along the new Western Alignment of China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), aimed at generating economic activity and increasing employment.
The Prime Minister Office was informed about the outcome of a meeting headed by the Chairman of the Board of Investment (BOI) in which representatives of the Governments of Balochistan and KPK identified the potential zones in their respective provinces.
The Zones identified by Balochistan included five potential sites, Turbat Industrial and Trading Estate (1000 acres), Industrial Estate Khuzdar (5000 acres), Dasht Industrial Zone near Quetta, Bostan Industrial Estate (1000 acres) and an Industrial zone at the junction of Qilla Saifullah, Zhob and Loralai.
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa also proposed seven potential sites that included Marble and Granite Industrial Estate at Mansehra (80 acres), Industrial Estate at Karnal Sher Khan Interchange at M-1, (1000 acres), Expansion of Industrial Estate Hattar Phase VII (424 acres), Industrial Estate D.I.Khan (188 acres), Industrial Estate at the border of Kohat and Karak (1000 acres) and Industrial and Economic Zone Bannu (400 acres).
The meeting discussed and identified future industrial zones along the western route of CPEC.
The BOI proposed establishment of SEZs in Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa along the new alignment of the western route of CPEC.
The BOI called for keeping in view the nearby availability of raw materials and utility services and status of land so as to make it feasible and attractive for the business community.
Chairman NHA gave a detailed briefing on alignment of the Western route passing through the two provinces.
Representative of Ministry of Industries suggested preparation of a feasibility report on each SEZ to help attract investment.
The representative of the KPK government informed that they had conducted the feasibility of their sites, while Balochistan informed that they were yet to conduct a feasibility.
The BOI offered to do so and funds were provided from the Planning and Development Division.
It was also informed that apart from the sites mentioned by the Balochistan government, there was also a Free Zone available at Gwadar, for which land had already been handed over to the Chinese government, however it was yet to be declared a Special Economic Zone.
Source: APP
